Tranexamic Acid

Tranexamic Acid reduces and prevents hemorrhage following a tooth extraction in patients with hemophilia. Can also treat women with heavy monthly periods.

Tranexamic Acid Overview

Reviewed: October 8, 2012

Updated: June 4, 2015

Tranexamic acid is a prescription medicine used to prevent the breakdown of blood clots. Tranexamic acid belongs to a group of drugs called antifibrinolytics which work by preventing the breakdown of blood clots.

Tranexamic acid tablets are used to treat women with heavy monthly periods (menstruation) that get in the way of social, leisure, and physical activities.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 3 times a day for a maximum of 5 days during the monthly period.

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional and is given immediately before tooth extraction and following tooth extraction. Tranexamic acid injection is used to reduce or prevent hemorrhage and reduce the need for replacement therapy during and following tooth extraction in patients with hemophilia as short-term use (two to eight days).

Common side effects of tranexamic acid include headache, back pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Tranexamic Acid Cautionary Labels

Uses of Tranexamic Acid

Tranexamic acid is a prescription medicine used to treat adult women with heavy monthly periods (menstruation) when bleeding gets in the way of social, leisure and physical activities.

Tranexamic acid injection is also used to reduce or prevent hemorrhage and reduce the need for replacement therapy during and following tooth extraction in patients with hemophilia as short-term use (two to eight days).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tranexamic Acid Drug Class

Side Effects of Tranexamic Acid

Blood clots. The risk of serious blood clots may be increased when tranexamic acid is taken with:

hormonal contraceptives, especially if you are taking higher than your normal dose of birth control, are overweight, or if you smoke cigarettes

medicines used to help your blood clot

some medicines used to treat leukemia

Eye changes. Stop taking tranexamic acid and promptly report any eye problems you have while taking tranexamic acid. Your doctor will refer you to an eye doctor who will examine your eyes.

Allergic reaction. If you have severe shortness of breath and your throat feels tight, stop taking tranexamic acid and get medical care right away.

The most common side effects of tranexamic acid include:

Headaches

Sinus and nasal problems

Back pain

Pain in your abdomen

Pain in your muscles or joints

Anemia

Fatigue

Injectable:

Tranexamic acid can cause serious side effects, including:

Convulsions

Blood clots

Eye changes. Stop taking tranexamic acid and promptly report any eye problems you have while taking tranexamic acid. Your doctor will refer you to an eye doctor who will examine your eyes.

The most common side effects of tranexamic acid include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Allergic dermatitis

Hypotension (hypotension has been observed when intravenous injection is too rapid)

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of tranexamic acid. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

If you notice a change in your usual bleeding pattern that worries you, or your heavy bleeding continues, contact your healthcare provider right away. This may be a sign of a more serious condition.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-888-FERRING (1-888-337-7464).

Tranexamic Acid Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tranexamic acid and other medicines can affect each other, causing side effects. Tranexamic acid can affect the way other medicines work and other medicines can affect how tranexamic acid works.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Birth control pills or other hormonal birth control

Medicines used to help your blood clot

Medicines used to break up blood clots

Any medicines to treat leukemia

Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is described above.

Tranexamic Acid Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of tranexamic acid there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving tranexamic acid.

Inform MD

Before taking tranexamic acid, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including whether:

You have ever had a blood clot or been told that you are at risk of having a blood clot

You are using a form of birth control that contains hormones (like a birth control pill, patch, vaginal ring or intrauterine device). Also tell your healthcare provider if you are taking higher than your normally-prescribed dose of birth control. Using hormonal products along with tranexamic acid, especially if you are overweight or smoke, may increase your chance of having a serious blood clot, stroke, or heart attack.

You have acquired defective color vision

You have a subarachnoid hemorrhage

You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant

You are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tranexamic acid can pass into your milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take tranexamic acid.

The time between the start of your periods is less than 21 days or more than 35 days

You have any other medical conditions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tranexamic Acid and Pregnancy

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Tranexamic acid falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with tranexamic acid. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tranexamic Acid and Lactation

Tranexamic acid has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from tranexamic acid, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Once your period has started, take 2 tablets of tranexamic acid three times per day (e.g., in the morning, afternoon, and evening).

Tranexamic acid tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed or broken apart.

Tranexamic acid may be taken with or without food.

Do not take more than 6 tablets of tranexamic acid in a day. If you take more than 6 tablets, call your healthcare provider.

If you miss a dose, take it when you remember, and then take your next dose at least six hours later. Do not take more than two tablets at a time to make up for missed doses.

If tranexamic acid does not help to lessen bleeding with your periods after 2 cycles or seems to stop working, talk to your healthcare provider.

Injectable:

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional and is given immediately before tooth extraction and following tooth extraction.

Tranexamic Acid Dosage

The recommended dose is two 650 mg tranexamic acid tablets taken three times daily for up to 5 days during monthly menstruation. If you have kidney disease, the daily tranexamic acid dose may be lowered.

Injectable:

The recommended dose of tranexamic acid for patients with hemophilia is 10 mg per kg body weight given immediately before tooth extraction. Following tooth extraction, intravenous therapy, at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight three to four times daily, may be used for 2 to 8 days. If you have kidney disease, the tranexamic acid dose may be lowered.

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